b'14American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comBREAKBULK QUARTERLY Russia-Ukrainian war jeopardizes regional metals supply chainsIts likely disruptions will last well beyond the duration of the current conflictBy Peter Buxbaum, AJOTAtamomentoftroubleWestern sanctions on Russia forglobalsupplychains,theinthewakeoftheinva-invasion of Ukraine by Rus- sionweremeanttohobble sianforcesonFebruary22theRussianeconomy,and mademattersthatmuchtopunishRussianPresident worse. The war, almost fromVladimirPutinandhiscro-itsinception,caughtmanynies.Formally,thesanc-commoditytradesandmar- tionshavemoretodowith kets in its crosshairsinclud- the flow of products, capital, ingthoseinvolvingseveralandinformationgoinginto crucial metals.Russiaandnotasmuchon Port of Vancouver breakbulk terminals catering to strong demand.(Photo VFPA) Russia is one of the worldsthings leaving Russia, noted largest producers and tradersJacksonWood,Directorof Breakbulk activity rising in portsof pig iron, steel, and alumi- IndustryStrategy,Global num. Ukraine is the worldsTradeIntelligence,atDes-across Canada 13th-largestproducerofcartes,aprovideroftrade, steel,exporting17millionlogistics,andsupply-chain metric tons in 2021, and theinformation services.By Leo Ryan, AJOT fifth-largestexporterofironButmanyofDescartes orebyvolume,at44.4mil- customers are taking a pretty AstheCanadianeconomyengagesinato demand for renewable energy projects. lion tons in 2021. Ukraine isconservative approach, said pronouncedpost-pandemicrecoveryfollow- Also driving the forward momentum is thealso a key commodities tran- Brown. They are looking at ing the largest contraction in decades in 2020,federalinfrastructurepackageofC$180bil- sit hub, according to a reportalltheiractivitieseventan-so is activity in the breakbulk sector of Cana- lion over 12 years that has barely begun to befrom S&P Global. Both coun- gentiallyrelatedtoRussia, dian ports showing renewed dynamism. This isimplemented. tries are also major players inincluding in Belarus and some of especially reflected in robust steel cargoes andIn this connection, transit projects dominatethe titanium, nickel, and pal- (METALScontinued on wind farm component shipments in response(ACTIVITYcontinued on page 18) ladium trades. page 16)'